The Kimberley Regional Court has sentenced two men to spend eight years and ten years’ direct imprisonment respectively after they were convicted for armed robbery, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
This sentence was handed over to the 36-year-old Relebogile Seshego and his 26-year-old co-accused, Katlego Phukuntsi, on Wednesday, 3 April.
The sentence followed an armed robbery on Sunday, 20 November 2022, when the duo entered a jewellery store at the Diamond Pavillion Mall.
They threatened the store employees with a firearm and robbed them of jewellery, cellphones, and an undisclosed amount of money. The two were seen fleeing the scene in a white Toyota Starlet, said Sgt Merapelo Pilane, police spokesperson.
The police were alerted and both suspects were traced and arrested on the same day. The case docket was handed over to Sgt Eunice Ngono of the provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Investigation unit, who successfully opposed bail, and through meticulous investigation, both accused ended up pleading guilty to all charges, and were found to guilty as charged.
Seshego was sentenced to ten years’ direct imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and a further two years for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, suspended for a period of five years, while Phukuntsi was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on the same charges.
The acting provincial commissioner of the Northern Cape, Maj. Gen. Luntu Ngubelanga, has lauded the investigating officer and welcomed the sentencing.